WELSH Labour has been challenged to raise its game in pushing forward the rights of women by UK deputy leader Harriet Harman.

Speaking at the party’s Welsh conference in Llandudno, she lambasted its record on sending women to Westminster.

She said: “Currently, 16 of your 26 Labour AMs are women. But Welsh women do not yet have the strong voice they need in Westminster.

Out of 26 Labour MPs in Westminster, only six are women – fewer than a quarter.”

She called on Labour to do more to address wider challenges facing women in Wales over pay and opportunity.

Ms Harman said: “Women in Wales have made progress but I know you want to see much greater progress on equality. Women work hard yet here in Wales women are still paid on average 17% less than men per hour.

“Well, I don’t believe that women in Wales are 17% less clever, 17% less hard-working, 17% less committed to their work. No, it is discrimination and as the Westminster government abandons progress towards equality, Labour women stand up for, and speak up for, women in Wales.”

Former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain is leading Labour’s organisational review, and Ms Harman urged the audience to press for greater female representation.

She said: “It is a key opportunity for you to have your say on how we change our party for the better. And our chance to ensure that we make progress on women’s representation in Wales and throughout the UK.”

The National Assembly has been famed for its high numbers of women.

However, there are concerns that the Assembly will lose its reputation for gender parity. At present, the Conservatives only have one female AM and Plaid Cymru has dropped its controversial “women first” policy which gave female candidates the top spot on the party’s regional lists.